Sports Briefs

Author: Geoff Homer

11 Panthers receive All-NESCAC honors

A total of eleven Panthers earned All-NESCAC honors this weekend in four different sports. Men's soccer fielded three all-conference players, women's soccer three, volleyball one and field hockey four. In addition, women's soccer coach Peter Kim was named NESCAC Coach of the Year.

For the men's soccer squad, Co-Captains Dave Lee '07 (pictured right) and Zack Toth '07 received accolades, as did Casey Ftorek '08. Toth received first-team honors and ended his career as one of the top goalies to don a Middlebury uniform. Not to be overshadowed was Lee, who received second-team honors for his strong play as a back in which he was the cornerstone of the defense. Lastly, Ftorek, who transferred from Union, made an immediate impact. This first-team selection led the NESCAC and the Panthers with 34 points on the season, tying the Middlebury record.

Volleyball player Lexie Fisher '08 (pictured left) received All-NESCAC second-team honors this season, as the Panthers advanced to the NESCAC Tournament. She led the team with 3.53 kills per game and 106 blocks on the season. Fisher also had 85 block assists this season. With a year left, Fisher has a shot to set several Panther records.

From the field hockey team, Reid Berrien '08 and Lacey Farrell '08 received first-team honors while Taryn Petrelli '09 and Meghan McGillen '07 garnered second-team honors. For Berrien, it is her second straight first-team award. She led the team with 11 goals and her 28 points were tops at Middlebury. Classmate Farrell had a great year in the midfield as she finished tied for third on the team with six goals. McGillen ends her career as Middlebury's all-time shutout leader, with 21. She also ranks first all-time with a 1.06 goals-against-average and second with 427 saves. Petrelli has been a constant presence in the defense, starting 17 games, shutting down the opponent's leading scorer.

Last but not least, the women's soccer team, which has enjoyed the most post-season success of any Panther squad, had Tri-Captains Kim Walker '07 and Caitrin Abshere '07 receive first-team honors, while Erin Pittenger '07 received second-team honors. Coach Kim received NESCAC Coach of the Year for the second time in his three seasons as Middlebury's coach for his efforts in leading Middlebury to it's first NESCAC Championship since 2000.


Macky bikes brilliantly

Macky Franklin '10 had quite the October on his mountain bike. He competed in the NCCA Mountain Bike National Championships in Angel Fire, N.M. Oct. 20-22 after winning both the cross country (XC) and short track (STXC) races at the Eastern Conference Collegiate Cycling Championships, which were hosted at Jiminy Peak in Dalton, Mass. the previous weekend.

Despite getting off to a tough start in New Mexico - his bike was locked to the roof rack of his car and he could not find the key - Franklin finished 14th out of 86 bikers in the XC and 15th out of 75 racers in the STXC.

"I wasn't quite ready for the altitude," said Franklin. "I realized how fast the western riders are and sadly realized that I was not in as good of shape as I could have been."